When I first bought my car, I had every intention of working on it. Not so much hands on, but making it the fun project car it was meant to be. Unfortunately I had just never gotten around to it. It was always “ill do it next month”. Joel was doing the same thing. We both needed to fix some things about our car but neither of us got around to it. We were both in this love-hate relationship with our cars.

Every time I looked at my car, I was always filled with as much inspiration as I was disappointment. I could see all the things I loved about it, all the things I wanted to spoil her with, then I remembered all the things about her that made me want to kick her. I was a bad owner. I wasn’t treating her right, and in the end all the things about her that made me dislike her were things I needed to fix.

Get the ball rolling right? So I have. With the help of Bryan, Ive been able to start the upgrades and investments into my car. Investments? Yes. Not because it increases its dollar value, but because it makes me like it all over again. Its an investment of my own self interest and self gratification. Ive slowly begun to re-ignite the love affair with my car.

Its amazing what 2 small “upgrades” do to the car. New Suspension and New Exhaust.

RS*R ExMag Exhaust
I have replaced my Greddy Evo with the RS*R ExMag Exhaust. While the Greddy is a popular choice, it was always just an interim choice for me. I needed to get rid of the mexican rice exhaust that plagued my car when i first bought it and the Greddy was a cheap and quick solution. While it was significantly quieter and a better performer, it still left a lot to be desired.

My new exhaust is not only extremely and amazingly quiet, the sound she does emit is very appealing. I can actually hear my engine and my vtec. It also just has a very pleasant hum to it. It looks great on the car as well. It fits perfectly with my GS-R rear bumper. It also has noticeable performance gains. Well worth every penny.

TEIN Super Street Damper
My existing suspension was shot. My shocks and struts were dead and the skunk2 coilovers that were in place just weren’t cutting it. Swapping out my suspension had always been an initial change I had intended on doing but like all else, it just never happened. I have upgraded to the TEIN ss coilovers and they are fucking amazing.

My car handles amazingly well. Even with stock front strut bar. The TEIN SS Coilovers offer me 16 levels of damping force, and ride height adjustable springs. I had intended on getting the EDFC, but I think i will hold off for now.

Bryan has recommended a few strut bar and sway/tie bar kits. That along with new wheels is next. I will be converting to a 5 lug wheel so we’ll see what I get next!